The Perfect Layout

Category: Wikipedia Tips

Since 2011, Wikipedia has struggled with an increasingly obvious problem.

A first-of-its-kind survey was released that year which revealed that fully 8.5% of Wikipedia editors and contributors were women. To help close this gap, Wikipedia sponsored a new ongoing series of edit-a-thons, to have people visit in person, and sit down to make Wiki edits and contribute to the site. These edit-a-thons are organized by Wikipedia volunteers and happen in cities all around the world.

Using this process as a model, Wikipedia has commenced edit-a-thons for American Indians as well, whose lack of representation on Wikipedia is far more widely acknowledged than it is documented. Wikipedia is calling out for help on the topic of Indigenous history, having sponsored an edit-a-thon not long ago in San Diego to expand coverage of American Indian topics and articles.

Obstacles To Creating Wikipedia Pages

No matter who you are, creating a Wikipedia page is no small order.

There are myriad obstacles you may face when you make a Wikipedia article. Internet access is first and foremost, because it becomes impossible to complete the task of editing if the internet gets too slow. This is especially the case in rural Indian Reservations in the United States, where internet access quality is comparable to any country in the developing world. No doubt that there are other obstacles to creating a new Wikipedia article in the field of American Indian history.

Many American Indian Wikipedians point out the existence of the “Notability Standard” as a barrier to participation. Because Native Americans have been so under-represented in the past, there are fewer documented sources to draw on today. This double standard has barred many artists and cultural contributors from having their own Wikipedia article, and this dichotomy seems to be at the heart of Wikipedia’s trouble here.

Even Wikipedia’s Notability Standard policy calls for protection against “indiscriminate” information being published. Here, Wikipedia uses the older, more intellectual definition of the word “discriminate,” but the double entendre is too painful to ignore. It’s discriminating against certain types of information that gets Wikipedia into exactly the kind of trouble it’s in here. Even Wikipedia acknowledges its content has racial biases.

The Easy Button When It Comes To Wikipedia Content

If this all sounds like a confusing headache to you, you’re definitely not alone. Editing a Wikipedia page is difficult, and requires industry-specific expertise.

Many people opt to source their talent out to a specific company dedicated to making and editing Wikipedia articles, such as Get Your Wiki, for knowledgeable Wikipedia editors.

Get Your Wiki essentially cures the headache of making Wikipedia content, whether it’s for yourself, your business, or a topic you care about. This can yield big opportunities for business down the line, and / or for personal reputation and public relations, with a page created by hardworking professionals who all have well beyond the requisite expertise in getting articles approved on Wikipedia (here is Wikipedia’s ongoing list of wish-listed articles about American Indians).